Modi with Abe_3 Courtesy: MEA/Government of India
4 September 2014

India-Japan: potential still unrealised

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Tokyo had raised expectations at home, especially due to the equation between him and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and the immense potential for Japanese investment in India. However, while the visit showcased warmth and friendliness, it fell short on the strategic and economic front

Nirmala Sitharaman with joint IPJF Courtesy: IANS/PIB
27 August 2014

India’s move towards economic diplomacy

For long the Indian administration has separated the domains of strategic diplomacy and trade facilitation. However, the new government is actively working to bring the two under one umbrella knowing well that ‘economic diplomacy’ is crucial to regaining India’s growth story

japan_india_flag Courtesy: Gateway House
26 August 2014

Modi in Japan: great expectations

A lot has been written about the Modi-Abe equation and expectations are high from the upcoming Tokyo summit. Despite the bonhomie shared by the two leaders much work needs to be done on the civil nuclear deal as well as defence cooperation to arrive at a substantive and fruitful relationship

041005-N-0021M-001 Courtesy: U.S. Navy photo/Journalist 1st Class Todd Macdonald
29 July 2014

Malabar 2014: a good beginning

India’s invitation and the subsequent participation of the Japanese navy in the Malabar 2014 exercise is a sign of the deepening of the political-security relationship between India and Japan. However, an actual fruition of the potential requires both the administrations to be more flexible, especially on the nuclear deal and defence purchases

Modi departure_Bhutan Courtesy: MEA/Indian Embassy Thimphu
18 June 2014

Modi: charting a new foreign policy course

Narendra Modi’s first month in office has seen him deftly handle India’s neighbours, accept an invitation to visit Washington, enhance relations with Bhutan and accord due importance to China. In the same manner, Modi will also have to move quickly and firmly to reassure foreign investors of the dependability of India’s fiscal environment

Shangri La Dialogue Courtesy: Department of National Defence, Republic of Philippines
5 June 2014

Rethinking India’s role in Asia

The recently held Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security forum of Asia’s defence establishments, highlighted the growing anxieties over China’s belligerent pursuit of territories under dispute in the South China Sea. The U.S. and Japan have made it clear that they will strongly challenge China’s claims. It’s a tussle that will throw up new security dilemmas for India in the future

120904-N-NX070-023 Courtesy: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class RJ Stratchko
14 May 2014

Obama in Asia: a reassuring visit?

In the wake of an ambitious and aggressive China, American President Barack Obama’s recent visits to various Asian countries were meant to assure allies old and new. At the same time, he trod a fine line, ensuring that he does not displease Beijing. And that may embolden China